Fourteen Tonnes of Urea, One Deadline, Two Truck Options
Sanjeev is the dispatch in-charge at a fertilizer dealer's yard in Ludhiana. On 12 July he must move 280 bags of urea, each 50 kg, to a dealer in Kanpur, 780 km away. The bags measure 0.85 m x 0.55 m x 0.20 m and are stacked eight high on wooden pallets; the consignment must reach Kanpur within 36 hours because the dealer's monsoon storage is already full. Two options are offered by the transporter. Vehicle A is a 22-ft truck with GVW 16,200 kg and kerb weight 6,400 kg, body 22 ft x 7.5 ft x 7 ft, quoted at Rs 2,450 per tonne; two A vehicles can be supplied. Vehicle B is a 32-ft multi-axle with GVW 28,000 kg and kerb weight 11,000 kg, body 32 ft x 8 ft x 7 ft, quoted at Rs 3,050 per tonne. The yard has two tarpaulins, each 30 ft x 20 ft. Rain is forecast from 6 pm. The loading crew handles 4 tonnes per hour, and Kanpur has a single unloading point.
1. Which vehicle option should Sanjeev book, and what must be verified before loading begins?
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Step 1 - weight. 280 x 50 kg = 14,000 kg. Vehicle A payload = 16,200 - 6,400 = 9,800 kg, so one A would be overloaded by 4,200 kg and illegal. Vehicle B payload = 28,000 - 11,000 = 17,000 kg; 14,000 kg uses 82% of payload.
Step 2 - volume. One bag = 0.85 x 0.55 x 0.20 = 0.0935 m3; 280 bags = 26.2 m3. B's body = 32 x 8 x 7 ft, about 48.7 m3, so volume utilisation is roughly 54%. B fits on both weight and volume; A fits volume but not weight.
Step 3 - checks before loading. Registration certificate GVW and kerb weight, fitness certificate, route permit including UP entry, driver licence of the correct class, insurance, and the e-way bill matching 14,000 kg and 280 bags. Weigh the loaded vehicle at a public weighbridge and keep the slip.
Step 4 - decision. A pair of A vehicles is legal only if both are actually at the yard and Kanpur can unload two trucks. Otherwise B is the correct booking; an overloaded single A is never an option.
2. Compare the freight cost of two A vehicles against one B, and state the decision rule Sanjeev should apply.
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Two A vehicles: 14 t x Rs 2,450 = Rs 34,300. Each carries 7 t, i.e. 71% of its 9,800 kg payload, and 13.1 m3 of the 32.7 m3 body.
One B: 14 t x Rs 3,050 = Rs 42,700. Difference = Rs 8,400, about 24.5% more.
Per tonne-km: A = 34,300 / (14 x 780) = Rs 3.14; B = 42,700 / (14 x 780) = Rs 3.91. On paper A is cheaper.
Hidden costs of A: two loading operations instead of one, two tarpaulins, two unloadings at a single Kanpur dock, and double handling of 50-kg bags, which raises tear and moisture-damage risk. Loading 14 t at 4 t/hour takes 3.5 hours, so two vehicles must be loaded in parallel to save time.
Decision rule: book two A vehicles only if (a) both are at the yard before 3 pm, (b) two tarpaulins can cover both bodies, and (c) the Kanpur dealer confirms two unloading slots within the 36-hour window. If any condition fails, book B: the deadline and rain protection outweigh a Rs 8,400 saving. Record the reason on the booking sheet.
3. What loading, stacking and covering instructions should Sanjeev give the crew?
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- Stack flat, not on edge. Eight bags high plus a 150 mm pallet gives about 1.75 m, safely below body height, and keeps the print and stitching away from chafing.
- Distribute weight. Place pallets evenly between axles, avoid a heavy block at the tail or over the rear axle only, and do not leave gaps that let the stack lean.
- Protect from moisture. Urea is hygroscopic: use dry pallets, a plastic liner over the floor, and never load wet bags. Stop loading if rain starts.
- Cover properly. One 30 ft x 20 ft tarpaulin is shorter than the 32-ft body, so use both, overlap at least 3 ft, and rope every 1 m. Check the cover after 20 km and re-tension.
- Document. Note bag count (280), weight (14,000 kg) and seal number on the bilty/LR; get the weighbridge slip before the truck leaves the yard.